Audrey Flack's Marilyn (Vanitas, 1977)

Texture and pattern are very easy to identify in this painting. The street’s cobblestones show texture and pattern in the way that they are arranged. Texture is also demonstrated through the paint strokes on the buildings, the tree, and even the sky. These thick, uneven strokes add a layer of depth and texture to all elements of the painting.

For my term paper I decided to go to the Cantor Museum in Palo Alto, and I chose to focus on two portraits of women from two distinct time periods. First, I decided on the portrait of Margaret Blagge, Wife of Sidney, 1st Earl of Godolphin. This portrait was painted by the artist Matthew Dixon in 1675, in the Baroque period of art. The portrait of Margaret Blagge was done in England, and it was painted as an oil on canvas. The second artwork I chose to compare was the Portrait of Sally Fairchild by John Singer Sargent. This portrait was done from the year 1884 to 1887 during the Realism movement in art. The portrait of Sally Fairchild was painted in the United States of America, and was painted as an oil on canvas. When comparing these two portraits

The medium used for this work of art is oil. In this technique the oil acts as a binder and causes a quick drying layer that can built upon. The formal elements of a painting include line, color, space, light, texture and pattern. The line appears to be an implied line in which the work creates directional movements from top to bottom. But also forces the viewer to see how the figures stand out and there importance in the painting. The color shows a subtle spectrum with a detailed background from the skies to the mountains to the artist table canvas. The light is somewhat even throughout the painting showing emphasis on every figure holding something in their hands; and more so the final product of the artist that are being captured on the canvas. The visual texture of the painting appears to be smooth and the pattern is decorative and somewhat vibrant. The principle of unity and variety are evident in this painting, the design itself shows a sense of community of important figures throughout African American history. I was drawn to this piece because it embodied the heritage of African American art through history. This painting by Hale Woodruff displays many of the significant contributions that African Americans made to the world of Art. Not necessarily “picture art” but all realms of life art: cooking, liberal arts, politics, labor, law and many more through his vibrant

It is a painting using the swirling turmoil of line to make up the piece. You can tell this is a painting by the different styles of line and color.

The use of line in this piece is also very interesting. The artist employs a high horizontal line to create a plunging effect giving the piece more depth. Another use of lines in the image is to create focal points to attract the viewer. Lines are also used to separate the different sections of the painting. Overall this painting uses lines in dynamic ways that vastly enhance the viewers’ pleasure and admiration of the piece.

For the second art encounter I visited the Museum of Art at BYU and viewed the Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso print exhibit.There were several other modernist artist on display in the exhibit, such as Lichtenstein and Kalloeitz, however Warhol and Picasso were the artist that are most talked about in this course. Both of these artist are considered to be modernist, however their works look very different. Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe print was on display showing the industrial, pop side of modernist art. Warhol’s art imitates the negative social norms of the time. His lowd use of neon color and choice of subject add to the growing popularity of veneration of celebrities. He also was one of the first artist to mass produce his art, adding

Audrey Flack was born in New York in !931, where she still resides. Using her drawings as a young Jewish girl growing up during the holocaust and WWII she was able to escape reality for a bit. Her father continued to feed into her love of art by giving her a 35mm camera. Photography became another element within her artwork, becoming even more apparent later on in life. At the age of 14 the School of Art and Music in New York became her second home after she passed a exam she was sure she would fail. Her inspirations for her

As indicated by the shape in the foreground, the lines that signify the contour of the rocks and freestanding structure merge. The lines lead the eye vertically as it meets the center. When looking at the painting as a whole, the viewer can see how the artist uses straight

“Despite all the years Monroe's mark on the fashion industry is indelible, as an icon of femininity and sexuality. ”Nowadays it is easy to be genuine and show your personality, whereas Marilyn and other women didn’t have have that opportunity back then. One way Monroe affected society is that she made certain things more socially acceptable that other wise wouldn’t have been, the fact that Marilyn showed her insecurities and doubt in the public intrigued and inspired people. She was someone people could relate to and that has a lasting impact on her career as well as most current

Accentuated through Warhol’s choice of utilizing an image of Marilyn Monroe; a celebrity who was depicted to be the embodiment of the ‘American dream’. Monroe’s public persona was portrayed by Hollywood to possess the ideal looks and lived a lavish and extravagant lifestyle. Warhol critiques at the flaws in Hollywood’s depiction of happiness shown through the repetitive prints of Monroe’s face. Utilizing color contrast Warhol hints at the themes of ‘the cult of celebrity’ and death. Emphasized through the portrayal of a set of Monroe’s face in bright and vibrant colors juxtaposing another set of

She was “far more than a face and a voluptuous body, although those were her major assets to a flesh-conscious industry”(Discovering Biography). Monroe made women feel like it was okay to embrace their bodies, and that they shouldn’t have to cover them up. She became the epitome of the “Blonde Bombshell”, which is a look that women still look up to and try to achieve today. Marilyn’s legacy still lives on today, and “each year new books, articles, calendars, and other merchandise keeps her firmly in the public eye”(Marilyn Monroe). Over 50 years after her death, Marilyn is still popular today and is an icon for many girls to look up to.

I have selected an artist by the name of Elliot Erwitt, since we share the same first initial. He is an American documentary and advertising photographer who is well known for his candid black and white photos. His photographs capture unique and ironic everyday settings. The picture below is of the late icon Marilyn Monroe and was taken in New York during the year 1956. Although she was a movie star here in this photo, she is simply reading a book. It shows a normal and relatable side of her, which I appreciate.

The first element of art that is used in this work of art is line, which can be seen throughout the entire painting. Indeed, the first thing I noticed was variety of lines in this painting; for example, there are straight vertical and horizontal lines on the throne, curved and organic lines within the throne and the faces and bodies of the people, and diagonal lines within the border of the painting. Some of the most interesting lines come in the shape of hair; for example, the beards on the men have very organic lines that look realistic and full of depth. Now, another element of art used within this work of art is tone. It seems as though this painting is full of vibrant colors except for Mary’s robes, and the wings on the angels, so this painting was most likely created with few lines to allow a light and bright tone for the painting.

The artist uses stimulated textures, which are created to look like something other than paint on a canvas. There is also a variety of textures, but particularly in the painting is the pipe, newspaper and table. They are depicted as smooth with polished wood and we could feel them by touching.

The actual lines within this painting include the easel to the left, a long vertical line. The high ceilings within this painting also create horizontal lines. The paintings within the painting also create their own horizontal lines. Together, they create implied lines across the background. The walls on the right side of the image show vertical lines moving upwards, creating high ceilings as well. The lines within this painting work to show the depth of this room and cause the viewer to look from the background of the painting to the foreground. There are organic lines creating the individuals and the dog sitting in the foreground as